The Vast and Brutal Sea by Zoraida Córdova Review

Name: The Vast and Brutal Sea (The Vicious Deep #3)
Author: Zoraida Córdova
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Release Date: July 1st, 2014
Format: E-Book ARC
336 pages

Thank you so much Sourcebooks Fire for sending me a copy of this book to review!

Summary:
This epic clash of sand and sea will pit brother against brother-and there can only be one winner.

In two days, the race for the Sea Court throne will be over-but all the rules have changed. The sea witch, Nieve, has kidnapped Layla and is raising an army of mutant sea creatures to overthrow the crown. Kurt, the one person Tristan could depend on in the battle for the Sea King's throne, has betrayed him. 

Now Kurt wants the throne for himself. Tristan has the Scepter of the Earth, but it's not enough. He'll have to travel to the mysterious, lost Isle of Tears and unleash the magic that first created the king's powerful scepter. It's a brutal race to the finish, and there can only be one winner.

Goodreads

My Review:
What a fantastic ending to a phenomenal series! From the start, I have been a huge fan of both books in The Vicious Deep series and The Vast and Brutal Sea is a really great way to end this fun ride!

What I really liked about The Vast and Brutal Sea was the plot! It definitely was fast paced and it was nice seeing all of my favorite characters back together again. I also liked how Zoraida made everything so detailed and we got to meet new characters and see different places which was great as well. I also really (still) like that the book is from Tristian's perspective! I thought over time I would not like the book being voiced by a male character but I really liked it and I loved reading Tristian's funny banter.

What I also really loved about the The Vast and Brutal Sea was that it was action packed, but the novel also was able to tie up loose ends, and add some romance in too. I also liked seeing Tristian really step into the role of a leader. In the first two books, Tristian was more watching from the sidelines but in this one we really got to see him step up to the plate.

Overall, I really liked The Vast Brutal Sea and I'm sad to see the series end! Definitely a solid ending to a solid series. I'm hoping that there will be some sort of e-book novella in the future so I can read more about Tristian's adventures.

My Rating:

The Minaldi Legacy by Courtney Cole Blog Tour (Review)

Name: The Minaldi Legacy
Author: Courtney Cole
Publisher: Lakehouse Press Inc.
Release Date: February 6th, 2014
Format: E-book ARC
Buy the book on Amazon

Summary:
“I’m a monster, Eva. There’s no saving a monster. But I love that you want to try.”

Luca Minaldi is rich, powerful and mesmerizing. He’s also a reclusive enigma. He lives in Malta, a fairy-tale place filled with sunshine and sea, beauty and secrets. And Luca’s darkest of secrets is the best-kept of them all. 

Eva Talbot moves to Malta to finish her doctoral dissertation in Psychiatry. When she meets Luca, there is a very real and instant attraction that she has never felt before. But even still, she senses the darkness that lives within him. 

Eva is hired to care for Luca’s mother, a woman who suffers from dementia. It is Luca, however, that Eva will eventually risk everything to save… as the legacy that plagues him continues. 

As the darkness swirls ever more tightly around her, Eva realizes that no matter how hard she tries, she might not be able to save Luca without losing herself. 

Eva and Luca are thrust into a world where their love is tested and darkness reigns. Amid chaos and treachery, love and hate, Luca and Eva learn one important thing. 

Love is dangerous. 

But it also might be the one thing that can save them all.

********
The Minaldi Legacy consists of two parts: part one, Of Blood and Bone and part two, Of Darkness and Demons. This is a Dark Romantic Thriller and it contains adult themes and content

Goodreads

My Review:
Note: Thanks again to Lakehouse Press Inc. for sending me this book to review!!
Ahhhhh..so so so sorry that we've disappeared for awhile! It's been a crazy month (and year!) but don't worry we are still here! Still reading and reviewing...it just takes us longer than normal :)

Overall, I thought The Minaldi Legacy was a really great read! I haven't read a book quite like it in a long time..and it definitely was a refreshing read!

What I really liked about this book was how unique the plot was. Lately I've been reading books that seem to have a similar plotline or is in the same genre. This book was SO unique and very different than the books I normally read..which was definitely really great! I also liked the seeing the progression of Eva throughout the novel. It's always interesting to see a character grow, and I think Eva really progressed so much throughout this book.

I also really liked how the book had two different parts (Of Blood and Bone, and Of Darkness and Demons). It was great to see how the author was able to keep the story going throughout these two parts.

In the end, I really enjoyed this book! It definitely was different than what I normally read, but I really enjoyed it! If you are looking for a paranormal romance that has suspense and action..definitely check this one out!

The Mephisto Mark Blog Tour: Guest Post

Hi guys!! Today I am so happy to be part of The Mephisto Mark Blog Tour (by InkSlingerPR Blog Tours!!). Make sure to check out this series if you haven't!

Book Tour Schedule: http://www.inkslingerpr.com/2013/09/13/the-mephisto-m

Summary:

Orphaned at six and sent to live with abusive relatives in Bucharest, Mariah learned early in life to box up violent, agonizing memories and put them in permanent mental storage. Now almost nineteen, she has a paying job, a tiny apartment, and a plan to attend university. She loves her independence and is steadily overcoming her past, but when an enigmatic stranger walks into the pub where she works and the trajectory of her life changes yet again, she begins to wonder if she’ll run out of mental shelf space.

The only females unafraid of the Mephisto brothers are the extremely rare Anabo, born without Original Sin. Over one hundred years ago, Phoenix was first to find one, but he made a fatal mistake and she was murdered by his oldest brother and enemy, Eryx. Phoenix soldiered through the next century wrapped up in grief and guilt, his only outlet planning takedowns of those who pledged their souls to Eryx. When one of his brothers brings Mariah to Mephisto Mountain, he’s torn between his instinctive, powerful need to pursue her, and his certainty that he can never have her.

Drawn into the world of the Mephisto, Mariah sees the pain and misery Eryx unleashes on humanity, and the boxes in her mind begin to fly open, one by one. All that keeps her from slipping off the edge is her unlikely, sexually charged friendship with Phoenix. He’s incredibly screwed up; she’s completely broken. It would take a miracle for them to find happiness. Then Eryx brings the war for Hell to a whole new level, forcing Mariah and Phoenix to make a choice that will bind them together for all eternity, or rip them apart forever.

Goodreads

My Top 10 Favorite Books by Trinity Faegen

1. The Runaway Bunny – Makes me cry every time.

2. Jane Eyre – My first ‘adult’ book. After Jane, I never read another horse book.

3. Pride & Prejudice – Okay, so it’s cliché, but this is most excellent.

4. Slightly Dangerous – Mary Balogh. This is old school romance and I adore it. I reread at 

least once a year.

5. Lord of Scoundrels – The perfect romance novel. Ask anyone.

6. The Hunger Games – I couldn’t put it down. Reread it as soon as I’d finished, just to 

relive the awesome.

7. Dark Lover – Paranormal romance doesn’t get much better than this. It’s still my favorite 

of all the Ward BDB books.

8. David Copperfield – Every author should glom Dickens. He was a master at character 

building & descriptions. 

9. Master of the Game – I cut my teenage teeth on Sidney Sheldon. I haven’t read this in 

years and years and it still stands out as a favorite read.

10. Whatever I just read – I’m not particularly picky and tend to be enchanted with anything I 

read. I rarely find a book I don’t like, so generally speaking, my most favorite book is the 

one I just finished.

Trinity Faegen Bio:

Author of the RITA winning Pink Files series, Stephanie Feagan has had a love affair with romance novels since she was eleven and discovered there are kissing scenes in Victoria Holt books. She spent a lot of time in her closet with a flashlight, reading as fast as possible to get to the end, only to start a new book and begin the whole Leave-Me-Alone-I’m-Reading cycle all over again. She still stays up until the wee hours to finish books, now courtesy of a lighted e-reader which she believes is mankind’s greatest invention ever.

Stephanie also writes Young Adult and New Adult paranormal romance as Trinity Faegen. A practicing CPA who loves travel, books, new pencils, old keys, and smart guys, she lives in the oilfields of west Texas with her engineer husband and a mean cat. She’d love to hear from you. She answers to Stephanie, Trinity, Hey Lady, and Mom, and can be reached atStephanie@StephanieFeagan.com or Trinity@TrinityFaegen.com

She’s aware the similarity between her pseudonym, Faegen, and her real name, Feagan, confuses pretty much everyone, herself included. Since so many mispronounce Feagan as FEEgan instead of FAYgan, she thought she’d mix it up when she took a pseudonym and make it easier on people. Now people say FayEEgen, and spell it wrong. Next time she takes a pen name, she’s totally going with Smith or Jones.

Make sure to enter the rafflecopter giveaway below!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Author Links:

Blog: http://www.stephaniefeagan.com/

Twitter: www.twitter.com/stephaniefeagen

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Trinity-Faegen/108974155831943

Author Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4430487.Trinity_Faegen?from_search=true

The Mephisto Mark Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18046744-the-mephisto-mark

Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/Trinity-Faegen/e/B004UTPCDW/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1378945672&sr=8-1

Catching Liam by Sophia Bleu Review

Name: Catching Liam

Author: Sophia Bleu

Publisher: Self-Published

Release Date: July 8th, 2013

Format: E-Book ARC
Buy the book on Amazon

Summary:
Twenty-one year-old Jillian Nichols only has one rule when it comes to boys: catch and release. Boy-catching isn't just a game for Jillian and her friends, it's a lifestyle. After all, boys might be good for a dance or a drink and certainly a little under-cover action of the scandalous variety, but expect much else and you're bound for heart ache.

So when her best friends and fellow boy catchers start dropping like flies junior year, Jillian is determined to keep boys in her bedroom and out of her heart. Until she meets Liam McAvoy, the kind of guy that sticks around to make waffles and who can't—or perhaps won't—take a hint. 

Study abroad student Liam doesn't want to be another notch on Jillian's bedpost. Actually he has much more interesting ideas for Jillian and her bedposts, but his student visa's set expiration date means he can't promise her forever. That doesn't mean he's going to walk away from the challenge of discovering why Jillian is hell-bent at keeping people at a distance. 

Before long, neither is sure who is catching who—or if they're playing for keeps. Jillian knows one thing though: falling in love will not only break the only rule of boy-catching, it could also break her heart.

Goodreads

My Review:
I really didn't know what to expect when I started Catching Liam, but I found myself very surprised that I loved this book as much as I did! I've had an up and down relationship with New Adult novels and this one really was a great story!

Catching Liam started off as your typical New Adult novel: boy meets girl; one of them resists the others charms, and then the rest is history. Catching Liam though was very different from your average new adult novel. First, instead of the girl chasing the guy, Liam is chasing Jillian. It was really refreshing to have the guy go after the girl instead of the other way around. I haven't really read any books where the guy was in pursuit of the girl so this was a great change. Liam and Jillian really complemented each other..I really felt that they had a certain chemistry that worked well which I really liked!

Another thing that stood out about this book was how neither character had a "troubled past." In the past few New Adult novels, one character has something in there past that makes them hesitant about his/her relationships in the future. I was happy to see nothing like this hold the characters back.

Overall, Catching Liam was a fun New Adult read and I highly recommend it if you are looking to branch out into the New Adult genre!

My Rating:

KEEPING HER RELEASE DAY!!!!

Hi everyone! Today's the day of the release of Keeping Her by Cora Carmack! 

ABOUT KEEPING HER:

Garrick Taylor and Bliss Edwards managed to find their happily-ever-after despite a rather . . . ahem . complicated start. By comparison, meeting the parents should be an absolute breeze, right?

But from the moment the pair lands in London, new snags just keep cropping up: a disapproving mother-in-law-to-be, more than one (mostly) minor mishap, and the realization that perhaps they aren't quite as ready for their future as they thought.

As it turns out, the only thing harder than finding love is keeping it.

ABOUT CORA CARMACK:

Cora Carmack is a twenty-something writer who likes to write about twenty-something characters. She's done a multitude of things in her life-- boring jobs (like working retail), Fun jobs (like working in a theatre), stressful jobs (like teaching), and dream jobs (like writing). She enjoys placing her characters in the most awkward situations possible, and then trying to help them get a boyfriend out of it. Awkward people need love, too. Her first book, LOSING IT, is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller.

Cora Carmack is planning to donate 20% of all her royalties from this book to the charity Planting Peace for the life of the book. You can find out more about Planting Peace here: http://www.plantingpeace.org/. Planting Peace is a progressive nonprofit organization founded for the purpose of spreading peace in a hurting world. Although the organization operates on a global level, they emphasize the power of one; the ability that each person possesses to make a difference in the world.

GIVEAWAY TIME!!! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Preview Package: Cora Carmack's KEEPING HER by AvonBooks

INTERESTED? BUY LINKS:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Keeping-Her-LOSING-Novella-ebook/dp/B00CD36FHE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376267729&sr=8-1&keywords=keeping+her+cora+carmack

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/keeping-her-cora-carmack/1115290735?ean=9780062299260&itm=1&usri=keeping+her+cora+carmack

LINKS:

http://coracarmack.blogspot.com

https://www.facebook.com/CoraCarmackBooks

https://twitter.com/CoraCarmack

http://www.harpercollins.com/imprints/index.aspx?imprintid=518003

https://www.facebook.com/WmMorrowbks

https://twitter.com/WmMorrowBks

Frigid by Jennifer L. Armentrout Review/Blog Tour

Hi everyone! I am so excited today to be a part of the Frigid tour!

Name: Frigid 
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout (writing as J.Lynn)
Publisher: Spencer Hill Contemporary
Release Date: July 30th, 2013
Format: ARC
Buy the book on Amazon
240 pages

Summary:
For twenty-one-year-old Sydney, being in love with Kyler isn't anything new. They'd been best friends ever since he pushed her down on the playground and she made him eat a mud pie. Somewhere over the years, she fell for him and fell hard. The big problem with that? Kyler puts the 'man' in man-whore. He's never stayed with a girl longer than a few nights, and with it being their last year in college, Syd doesn't want to risk their friendship by declaring her love. 

Kyler has always put Syd on a pedestal that was too high for him to reach. To him, she's perfect and she's everything. But the feelings he has for her, he's always hidden away or focused on any other female. After all, Kyler will always be the poor boy from the wrong side of tracks, and Syd will always be the one girl he can never have. 

But when they're stranded together at a posh ski resort due to a massive Nor'easter, there's nothing stopping their red-hot feelings for each other from coming to the surface. Can their friendship survive the attraction? Better yet, can they survive at all? Because as the snow falls, someone is stalking them, and this ski trip may be a life-changer in more ways than one.

Goodreads

My Review:
I absolutely LOVED Frigid. There is something about Jennifer Armentrout's writing that sucks you in...once you start you can't stop!

One of my favorite parts about this book was the main character Syd. I really feel that she was so relatable and she really was a great girl. It was fun seeing her progress throughout the novel from the quiet best friend, to the girl that takes a couple risks and falls in love. This girl really has some spunk as well and some of her lines had me actually laughing out loud! Syd definitely was different then the normal types of heroines that Jennifer writes about, but I really liked Syd and I have to say she is probably one of my favorite characters out of all of the books I have read by Jennifer.

Now onto Kyler...OMG. What I liked so much about him is that we really got to see that he really wasn't that perfect as Syd brought him out to be. Especially with the alternating chapters between the two, we really got to see inside of his head and see how he feels for Syd. I liked that we got to dive a little bit deeper into his mind and find out what he was thinking and he really feels for her. Jennifer's writing is this book is outstanding...the book sucks you in right away and I was hooked on all of the characters. The way she writes just wants you to read more and I just felt hooked once I started this book.

Overall, I really enjoyed Frigid! Has to be one of my favorite NA novels that I have read in awhile and I can't wait to see what other books Jennifer has to offer!

Now onto Kyler's Question...

3.      Tell us about your first kiss, Kyler.  Who was it?  Where was it?  What was it like?  My first kiss wasn’t important enough to remember.   Seriously.  But, I can tell you all about the time I first kissed Sydney.  Actually, I think you’ll read about it.

4.      You don’t really do relationships.  Ever have a girl try very hard to change your mind about that?  How did that go for ya?

Question 4 will be answered on BookLoving Mom 7/15

 ****GIVEAWAY****

Spencer Hill is giving away a $200 giftcard to the the winners choice of Amazon, B&N, TBD, or an indie bookstore of choice!  

That means you could choose to buy one of these....

- See more at: http://www.stuckinbooks.com/#sthash.sPKHyo6q.dpuf

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Additionally, there is also a giveaway for an ARC copy of Frigid! Make sure to enter below :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Apollyon Tour Post!!

Hi everyone! Today I am hosting apollyon on my blog! Check out my review and the mystery letter below!!

Name: Apollyon 
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout 
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press 
Release Date: April 9th, 2013 
Format: ARC Copy
Buy the book on Amazon
360 pages
Thank you Spencer Hill Press for sending me a copy of this book for review!

Summary:
Fate isn’t something to mess with… and now, neither is Alex.

Alex has always feared two things: losing herself in the Awakening and being placed on the Elixir. But love has always been stronger than Fate, and Aiden St. Delphi is willing to make war on the gods—and Alex herself—to bring her back.

The gods have killed thousands and could destroy entire cities in their quest to stop Seth from taking Alex’s power and becoming the all-powerful God Killer. But breaking Alex’s connection to Seth isn’t the only problem. There are a few pesky little loopholes in the whole “an Apollyon can’t be killed” theory, and the only person who might know how to stop the destruction has been dead for centuries.

Finding their way past the barriers that guard the Underworld, searching for one soul among countless millions, and then somehow returning will be hard enough. Alex might be able to keep Seth from becoming the God Killer… or she might become the God Killer herself.

Goodreads

My Review:
Jennifer L. Armentrout has done it again! I didn't think anything could top Deity but I was so wrong..this book was FANTASTIC. This book has action, romance, and lots of awesome revelations!

I LOVED the romance in this book! My love for team Aiden was affirmed in this novel..he never gives up on her. He is so loving towards Alex, he really cares for her and he will do anything to protect Alex. Alex and Aiden both really compliment each other as well. Alex with her strong will and passion and Aiden with his protectiveness and how he is willing to give Alex his whole heart. Even though the the time they have is brief-what they have makes me hope in the end of this series that love will conquer all.

The plot of this book is so awesome! Every scene is action packed and no scene should be overlooked. I’m really glad Jennifer gives us all of these important details and sets up the stage for the next book. I loved seeing the progression of Alex throughout this book as well. No longer do we see the angry girl that we met in the first book but instead we see a girl with a passion to protect those around her and will do anything to help others. I loved how this book sets things up for the final book in the series. Of course this book ended with a cliffhanger..but I am so excited to see what happens next!

Overall, this book literally was so brilliantly written, so earth shattering, that I still can't stop thinking about it. Jennifer L. Armentrout is a fabulous writer, and probably one of the best YA authors out there. If you haven't read this series yet GO READ IT. It literally is such an amazing series and you won't regret it.


My Rating:

Nobody But Us by Kristin Halbrook Blog Tour (review)

Name: Nobody But Us
Author: Kristin Halbrook
Publisher: Harper Teen
Release Date: January 29th, 2013
Format: E-Book ARC
Buy the book on Amazon
272 pages

Thank you Harper Teen and Edelweiss for sending me a copy of this book for review!

Summary:
Bonnie and Clyde meets IF I STAY in this addictively heart-wrenching story of two desperate teenagers on the run from their pasts.

They’re young. They’re in love. They’re on the run.

Zoe wants to save Will as much as Will wants to save Zoe. When Will turns eighteen, they decide to run away together. But they never expected their escape to be so fraught with danger....

When the whole world is after you, sometimes it seems like you can’t run fast enough.

Nobody But Us, told in alternating perspectives from Will and Zoe, is an unflinching novel, in turns heartbreaking and hopeful, about survival, choices, and love...and how having love doesn’t always mean that you get a happy ending. Described as “beautiful, heartbreaking, and exhilarating” by Kody Keplinger, author of The DUFF, Nobody But Us will prove irresistible to fans of Nina Lacour, Jenny Han, and Sara Zarr.

Goodreads

My Review:

I wasn't really sure what to expect with Nobody But Us when I first started it. Happily, I really liked Nobody But Us, it was a really great contemporary read and I'm really glad I liked it!

I definitely loved the plot of Nobody But Us, definitely different then other contemporary novels I have read but I really enjoyed this one! I liked how the story was told from both characters perspective so we really got to see what both Will and Zoe were thinking. I also liked seeing how both characters grow throughout the novel. I also really liked Kristin Halbrook's writing style! Very different then what I usually read but it was really well written.

The only thing I didn't love was the ending! Oh man..definitely not what I expected at ALL. I was very shocked by what happens at the end. I'm not giving away any spoilers but the ending was really shocking. I guess sometimes shocking endings are better than predictable ones...and I really didn't see this one coming at all.

Overall, Nobody But Us was a really enjoyable reading! I didn't love the ending but other than that I really liked it! If your looking for a fastpaced contemporary read check this one out!



My Rating:

Real Mermaids Don't Need High Heels Holiday Blog Tour

Hi everyone! Today I am participating in the Real Mermaids Don't Need High Heels Blog Tour!

Below is a recipe from the author, Helene Boudreau, and the main character of the series, Jade, in honor of the holidays and the books upcoming release!

Real Mermaids Festive Treats

Hi everyone! Jade here from Real Mermaids.

One of my favourite things about the upcoming holidays is the great treats we get to make and share. I love food so much, in fact, that I included a recipe for some of my favourite snacks in each of the Real Mermaids books.

My friend Cori and I thought we’d experiment a bit and ‘holiday-ize’ each recipe for you!

In Real Mermaids Don’t Wear Toe Rings, I was stuck at my Gran’s cottage without any chocolate in sight. That’s when I turned to Google and found a recipe for a 5-minute Chocolate Mug Cake. Yes! Cake in FIVE MINUTES. I added raspberries and whipped cream to this version. Holiday dessert, anyone?

Chocolate Mug Cake with Raspberries and Whipped Cream

First, get yourself the biggest microwaveable mug in the cupboard. Add:

- 4 tablespoons flour

- 4 tablespoons sugar

- 2 tablespoons cocoa

Mix it well. Then add:

- 1 egg

Mix. Then add:

- 3 tablespoons milk

- 3 tablespoons oil

Mix. Then add:

- 3 tablespoons chocolate chips (NOT optional—at least as far as I’m concerned)

- 1 capful of vanilla extract

And… MIX!

Cook in the microwave for 3 minutes at 1000 watts (high). The cake will look like it’s going to overflow but don’t freak out! Let it cool for a bit (unless you want to burn your lips off) and add raspberries and whipped cream to make it fancy, then ENJOY!

Happy treats and have a great holiday, everyone!

Love,

Jade